Personal safety is taking steps to protect yourself from crime. Personal safety involves:
Avoiding crime. Without a doubt, prevention is your best protection against crime. Be aware that crimes can happen at any time. Try to avoid being a victim by being prepared. Criminals plan; you can too. It’s to your advantage.
Knowing what to do if you’re a victim. By knowing how to react, you can help avoid injury, and help in the prosecution of the criminal.
Many crimes can be prevented if you:
Trust your instincts. If you suspect something is wrong, or a situation seems dangerous, you’re probably right. Don’t dismiss suspicious people, cars, or situations. Report them to the police immediately.
Avoid dangerous situations. Don’t invite trouble. Use your best judgment where you go and what you do. Take precautions on the street, and in your car.
Work with the police. People working together can prevent and solve many crimes.
Should I Carry a Weapon?
Be advised that it is illegal to bring or carry a weapon onto the Auraria Campus unless it remains unloaded and locked inside your motor vehicle.
Should I Learn Self-Defense?
Learning to defend yourself is a good idea, but don’t overestimate your abilities.
The Auraria Police Department teaches a Self Defense class called R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense System) for women only. This two day class is taught by certified instructors from this department. This program is dedicated to teaching women defensive concepts and techniques against various assaults. Contact the Auraria Police Department for further information about times and dates. The Health Center at Auraria also offers a course at no cost. The program is called R.A.A.P. (Rape Assistance and Awareness Program.) Phone 303.556.2525 for more information.
Avoid isolated bus or light rail stops at times when few other people are around.
Stay away from the curb until your bus or light rail arrives.
Beware of overheard conversations. Don’t tell anyone on a bus or light rail where you are going.
Have exact change ready, and sit in an aisle seat as close to the driver as possible and notify him or her
of any problems. Stay awake and alert throughout the trip.
If you sense someone is following you when you get off, walk toward other people or to an open business.
If taking a taxi, have the driver wait at your destination until you are safely inside.
DON’T WALK ALONE. Get a friend or a co-worker to go with you – especially at night. If you must walk alone, walk confidently.
NEVER hitchhike! It’s illegal, dangerous, and it’s not worth the risk.
Try to get a ride from a friend or take the bus or light rail (get a friend to wait with you).
Take advantage of Auraria’s Nightrider escort service. It will take you to any building or parking lot on campus Monday through Thursday, Sundown – 10:00pm. The wait time is usually no longer than ten minutes. To arrange for the Nightrider, contact the Auraria Parking office at (303) 556-2000. if the Nightrider is not running, contact the Auraria Campus Police Department at (303) 556-5000 to arrange for an escort to your car.
Stay alert to those around you. Notice when others are near you (in front, behind and beside you).
Use public walkways. Walk in well-lit paths. Avoid shortcuts and dark, isolated spots.
Go into a public place if you need to ask directions. Never give information or directions to strangers. Don’t let a stranger talk you into showing him/her where anything is.
Keep valuables close to you at all times. Don’t set them down. If you carry a purse, carry it close to your body, preferably in front. Carry no more money or credit cards than you absolutely need. Carry your wallet in a front or inside pocket if possible.
Try not to overload yourself with packages or other items. Keep your hands as free as possible.
If you wear a purse with a shoulder strap, be prepared to let it go if snatched.
Dress for freedom of movement. Avoid wearing tight or confining clothes, shoes that are hard to walk in or that may slip off, clothes that are easy to grab. Avoid wearing flashy clothes, jewelry, or furs as they might attract unwanted attention.
Do not wear music headphones while walking or jogging. Also, do not read while walking or standing on the sidewalk.
Avoid being on the street alone if you are upset or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
When you approach your parked vehicle, visually check in and around the vehicle for any suspicious persons or activity. If you observe anything suspicious, walk to where there are other people and call the police.
Have your keys ready when approaching your vehicle to reduce the time needed to enter.
ALWAYS lock your car and take the keys with you. Double check that your car is locked when you return.
Always park in visible, well-lit areas where there are plenty of passers-by. Make sure the area will be well-lit when you return to your car.
Attempt to avoid parking next to a larger pickup truck or van. They can be easy to hide behind.
Any valuables in your car should be placed in the trunk or the glove box, or otherwise kept out of sight.
Mount tape decks, CB radios, etc. out of sight, if possible.
When operating your vehicle, keep the doors locked and the windows rolled up.
Many people consider a cellular phone to be a good investment in safety.
DO NOT pick up hitchhikers!
Do not stop for a stranded motorist. Instead, go to the nearest telephone booth and call the police for assistance.
When stopped at traffic lights or in traffic, allow space between you and the vehicle in front of you so you can
easily drive away if necessary.
If someone approaches your vehicle and attempts to enter, honk your horn to attract attention.
Do not open your window if someone approaches your vehicle to ask for directions, the time, etc. Keep the doors locked and drive away.
Don’t keep house keys attached to car keys. If you have to leave your keys with a service station or parking facility attendant, leave only your ignition key.
If your vehicle becomes disabled and help is not immediately available, raise the hood of the vehicle (if you can safely do so), attach a handkerchief to the door handle, and then stay in the vehicle with the doors locked and the windows up. Activate your hazard or parking lights. If someone stops to assist you, ask them through the closed window to call the police.
Carry in your car – a flashlight, fix-a-flat, maps, comfortable warm clothing, a portable fire extinguisher, first aid kit, empty gas can, white cloth to tie to door handle or antenna to signal distress, and a cellular phone.
Avoid isolated corridors or hallways. Be extra careful in stairwells and isolated or poorly-lit restrooms.
Avoid entering an elevator which is occupied by only one other person who is a stranger. Get on with a group if possible. If you’re uncomfortable with a stranger, get off immediately.
Stand away from the door while waiting for the elevator alone. Stand near the controls and locate the emergency button. If you are assaulted while in the elevator, hit the emergency button and press as many floor buttons as possible.
If you are working in an office after hours, lock the office suite and office door. Call Campus Police if you see or hear anything suspicious.
Act Suspicious: Turn to look at the person. This gives you time to plan your strategy and lets the person know you won’t be taken by surprise.
Change Directions: If someone is following you on foot, cross the street and vary your pace. If the person is in a car turn and walk in the opposite direction.
Go into a Classroom, Library, occupied Office, or other Public Place: If the person follows you, ask to use the phone and call the police.
Notice and remember as much detail as possible about the person so that you can give a good description to the police.
Evaluate the situation. Look around. Are there sources of help available? What state of mind is your attacker in?
Stay Alert. Listen and observe carefully so you can make the best decision now and provide important evidence later.
Decide how you want to respond. All situations and people are different. Trust your instincts, but be realistic about your ability to protect yourself. Screaming, hitting or biting may give you a chance to escape, but also may expose a greater harm. Passive resistance (vomiting or telling the attacker that you are diseased) may also be an option. Do what comes naturally and do it immediately!
Give up your valuables. If the attacker only wants your valuables, give them up. Valuables can be replaced. Your life can’t.
REMEMBER: Escaping an attack and survival afterwards are the most important considerations. Keep this in mind as you act and react. Every situation is different, and only you can decide which course of action is appropriate.
The Auraria Campus Police Department wishes to remind the campus community to obey the pedestrian crosswalk signals at the pedestrian crossing areas surrounding the campus.
This is especially critical at the busy and congested intersections of:
7th and Curtis Street
7th and Lawrence Street
7th and Walnut Street
Speer Boulevard and Larimer Street
Colfax and Lipan/Mariposa (9th)
Pedestrians, bicyclists and skateboarders are reminded to remain at the curb area and not cross the roadway during the steady red “Don’t Walk” signal. Oncoming motor vehicle traffic has the right-of-way during a green traffic signal. Due to the busy and oftentimes congested intersections, motorists may not observe pedestrians in enough time to stop their vehicles.
The traffic laws that apply to pedestrian crossings include the following:
Colorado Revised Statutes:
42-4-801 Pedestrian-Obey traffic control device, “(1) A pedestrian shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device specifically applicable to the pedestrian. (2) Pedestrians shall be subject to traffic and pedestrian control signals. (4) Any person who violates any provision of this section commits a class B traffic infraction.”
42-4-802 Pedestrian right of way-Crosswalks, “(1) When traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. (3) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a moving vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. (5)(b) “Don’t Walk” (steady): While the “Don’t Walk” indication is steadily illuminated, no pedestrian shall enter the roadway in the direction of the signal indication. (5)(c): “Don’t Walk” (flashing): Whenever the “Don’t Walk” indication is flashing, no pedestrian shall start to cross the roadway in the direction of such signal indication, but any pedestrian who has partly completed crossing during the “Walk” indication shall proceed to a sidewalk or to a safety island, and all drivers of vehicles shall yield to any such pedestrian.”
42-4-803 Pedestrian-Cross at other than crosswalk, “(1) Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. (4) No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic control devices.
Stay Alert: Remember the time, place, person’s appearance (height, weight, clothing, scars, hair, etc.) name, age, the car or property involved (if applicable) – item, make, year, model, color, markings and vehicle license number. Write information down as soon as possible.
Notify Police: Notify the police of suspicious activities, actual, attempted, or suspicious crimes. Report cars, people, deliveries, etc. that seem suspicious.
Press Charges: If you’re the victim of any crime, assist the police in prosecuting the criminal.
